Freedom Shopping, Inc. provides RFID inventory solutions, specializing in the retail market. The company has offered RFID based point of sale (POS), security and self-service solutions since 2005.
Freedom Shopping was created when a Hickory, NC software company was approached to develop a store that would be easy to use but which would require no staff on hand. The system was to be used to sell food and convenience items in institutions such as hospitals, schools, and places of employment.
Originally the project was to use UPC barcode technology but barcode systems were not sufficiently reliable or easy to use in a completely unmanned situation. Instead an RFID system was developed.
The first consumer test was arranged at a Marriott hotel in Hickory, NC in April 2005. It is believed that this marks the first instance of an item-Level RFID store that was offered as a commercial system.
The company supplies the components of the original system in separate subsystems for other POS providers and software developers. The company now offers inventory, EAS security and self checkout and their subcomponents as stand-alone products.